# DRAFT



# Office of Water

Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan

September 2013

### Prepared by:
Office of Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency September 2013Disclaimer

To the extent this document mentions or d iscusses statutory or regulatory authority, it does so for informational purposes only. This document does not substitute for those statutes or regulations, and readers should consult the statutes or regulations to learn what they require.

Neither this doc ument, nor any part of it, is itself a rule or a regulation. Thus, it cannot change or impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, the public, or the regulated community.

Further, any expressed intention, suggestion or recommendation does not impos e any legally binding requirements on EPA, States, tribes, the public, or the regulated community. Agency decision makers remain free to exercise their discretion in choosing to implement the actions described in this Plan. Such implementation is contingen t upon availability of resources and is subject to change.

### Preface

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to identifying and responding to the challenges that a changing climate poses to human health and the environment.

Scientifi c evidence demonstrates that the climate is changing at an increasingly rapid rate, outside the range to which society has adapted in the past. These changes can pose significant challenges to the EPA’s ability to fulfill its mission. The EPA must adapt to climate change if it is to continue fulfilling its statutory, regulatory and programmatic requirements. The Agency is therefore anticipating and planning for future changes in climate to ensure it continues to fulfill its mission of protecting human healt h and the environment even as the climate changes.

In February 2013, the EPA released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan to the public for review and comment. The plan relies on peer

- reviewed scientific information and expert judgment to identify v ulnerabilities to EPA’s mission and goals from climate change. The plan also presents 10 priority actions that EPA will take to ensure that its programs, policies, rules, and operations will remain effective under future climatic conditions. The priority p laced on mainstreaming climate adaptation within EPA complements efforts to encourage and mainstream adaptation planning across the entire federal government.

Following completion of the draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan , each EPA National
Environmenta l Program Office, all 10 Regional Offices, and several National Support Offices developed a Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan to provide more detail on how it will carry out the work called for in the agency

- wide plan. Each Implementation Plan articul ates how the office will integrate climate adaptation into its planning and work in a manner consistent and compatible with its goals and objectives.

Taken together, the Implementation Plans demonstrate how the EPA will attain the 10 agency

wide prioritie s presented in the Climate Change Adaptation Plan . A central element of all of EPA’s plans is to build and strengthen its adaptive capacity and work with its partners to build capacity in states, tribes, and local communities. EPA will empower its staff an d partners by increasing their awareness of ways that climate change may affect their ability to implement effective programs, and by providing them with the necessary data, information, and tools to integrate climate adaptation into their work.

Each Prog ram and Regional Office’s Implementation Plan contains an initial assessment of the implications of climate change for the organization’s goals and objectives. These “program vulnerability assessments” are living documents that will be updated as needed to account for new knowledge, data, and scientific evidence about the impacts of climate change on EPA’s mission. The plan then identifies specific priority actions that the office will take to begin addressing its vulnerabilities and mainstreaming climate c hange adaptation into its activities. Criteria for the selection of priorities are discussed. An emphasis is placed on protecting themost vulnerable people and places, on supporting the development of adaptive capacity in the tribes, and on identifying cl ear steps for ongoing collaboration with tribal governments.

Because EPA’s Programs and Regions and partners will be learning by experience as they mainstream climate adaptation planning into their activities, it will be essential to evaluate
their effort s in order to understand how well different approaches work and how they can be improved. Each Implementation Plan therefore includes a discussion of how the organization will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its adaptation efforts and make adjustme nts where

necessary.

The set of Implementation Plans are a sign of EPA’s leadership and commitment to help build the nation’s adaptive capacity that is so vital to the goal of protecting human health and the environment. Working with its partners, the Age ncy will help promote a healthy and prosperous nation that is resilient to a changing climate.

Bob Perciasepe Deputy Administrator

September 2013

# Table of Contents

I) I ntroduction 1

II) Vulnerability of Water Resources to Climate Change 3

III) Priority Actions to Respond to Climate Change 10

IV) Office of Water Contribution to Meeting EPA 1 5 Strategic Measures on Climate Change

V) Legal and Enforcement Issues 1 5

VI) Training and Outreach 1 6

VII) Partnerships with Tribes 1 9

VIII) Vulnerable Populations and Places 21

IX) Evaluation and Cross

- Office Pilot Projects 2 3

Appendi ces 2 7

1. Table of Vision Areas, G oals and Strategic Actions from National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change

2. Graphic Il lustrating the Organizational Framework for Climate Change Work by the National Water Program
3. N ational Water Program Climate Change Workgroup : Principal MembersPage intentionally left blankPage 1 

## INTRODUCTION

This Implementation Plan prov ides an overview of the opportunities available to the Office of Water within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to the challenges that a changing climate poses for the successful operation of national programs to protect the quality
of t he national water resources and drinking water.

This Plan is organized using the framework adopted by the EPA for each of its major national offices and regional offices. Key elements of the Plan address:

 Vulnerability of water resources, including cle an water and drinking water programs, to climate change;  p riority actions for water program response to climate change;  Office of Water c ontribution to m eeting EPA s trategic m easures on c limate c hange ;  Legal and e nforcement i ssues ;  Training and o utrea ch for climate change adaptation ;  Partnerships with Tribes ;  P opulations and p laces vulnerable to a changing climate ; and  Program e valuation and c ross

- Agency p ilot proj ects

.

This Plan draws on, and is intended to help implement,
the National Water Pro gram 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change published in December 2012 . The 2012 Strategy describes long

- term goals for the management of sustainable water resources in light of climate change and i s intended to be a roadmap to guide future programmati c planning and inform decision makers during the Agency’s annual planning process. The 2012 Strategy is available at http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange

. Some initial steps by EPA national water pro grams and regional offices are described in the 2012 Highlights of Progress report (available at the website above). “Many of the programs and activities already underway throug ho ut the National Water Program ...are even more important to do in light of climate change. However, climate change poses such significant challenges to the nation’s water resources, that

more transformative approaches will be necessary .”

National Water Prog ram 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change ; EPA; 2012; p. 1Page 2 The 2012 Strategy identifies five long

- term programmatic vision areas :

1. water infrastructure;

2. watersheds and wetlands;
3. coastal and ocean w aters;
4. water quality; and

5. working with Tribes.

Each of these programmatic vision areas is supported by more specific Goals and Strategic Actions. Additional goals and
actions address “cross

- cutting program support” topics. A table providing a brief

su mmary of the 19 G oals and 53 Strategic Actions described in the 2012 Strategy is provided in Appendix 1

. Climate change issues and actions in climate regions across the country are also
identified.

The National Water Program, including both EPA Headqu arters offices and EPA Regional offices, has taken several steps to implement the new 2012 Strategy including :

 D eveloping this Implementation Plan as part of the Agency

- wide work to prepare an EPA

c limate c hange a daptation i mplementation p lan;

 P reparing an internal workplan for 2013 describing specific implementation actions that

EPA headquarters and Regional offices plan to implement during 2013 ;

 C ommitting to the continued operation of the State and Tribal Climate Change Council made up of represen tatives of States, water utilities, and other interested organizations to provide advice and guidance to EPA in addressing issues related to climate change and water;

 I dentifying future directions for the work on climate change issues in the National Wa ter Program Guidance for FY 2014 and in the 2013 Implementation Plan ; and

 C ommitting to leadership of cooperative efforts with other organizations to address climate change and water issues including serving as c o

- c hair of the Interagency Climate Change and Water Workgroup (made up of Federal agencies) and the Climate Change Workgroup of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) made up of 40 stakeholder organizations and Federal agencies.

A graphic illustrating the organizational framework f or the climate change work by the National

Water P rogram is provided in Appendix 2

. Climate Change Vision:

The National Water Program’s overarching vision for responding to climate change is:

Despite the ongoing effects of climate change,
the N ational Water Program intends to continue to achieve its mission to protect and restore our waters so that drinking water is safe; and aquatic ecosystems sustain fish, plants, and wildlife, as well as economic, recreational, and subsistence activities.Page 3 

## II. Vulnerability of Water Resources to Climate Change

T he many impact s that a changing climate is likely to have on water resources, both
freshwater and coastal resourc es , include:

1. Increases in w ater p ollution p roblems as a ir and w ater w arm; 2. More e xtreme w eather e vents;
3. Changes to w ater a vailability ( r ain and s now l evel and d istribution);

4. Sea l evel r ise/ s torm s urge and w aterbody b oundary m ovement and
d isplacement;

5. Collective i mpacts on c oastal a reas; and
6. Indirect i mpacts r esulting from c hanges in e nergy and f uel p roduction.

The nature and extent of these impacts is described in greater detail below together with the relationship of these impacts to clean wate r and drinking water program
components. The association of climate change impacts on water with clean water and drinking water programs is illustrated using a chart of the full range of programs (see sample chart below). For each of the six climate cha nge impacts identified above , the specific programs identified in the chart affected by the impacts are highlighted. This chart format illustrates both which programs are expected to be a ffected by the specific type of climate change impacts and which pr ograms are not expected to be affected.

Clean Water and Drinking Water Program Template

1) Increases in Water Pollution Problems as Air and Water Warm: Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based
Standards Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Wat er Restoration/ T otal Maximum Daily Loads (T MDLs ) Underground Injection
Control Permits Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution
Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SR F (State Revolving Funds) Clean Water SRF (State Revolving Funds) Ocean Protection Combined Sewer
Overflow PlansPage 4 Warmer air temperatures will result in warmer
water. Warmer water hold s l ess dissolved oxygen making instances of low oxygen levels or “hypoxia” more likely (which is detrimental to the aquatic ecosystem); foster harmful algal blooms; and alter the toxicity of some pollutants. For further details
on the se impacts see pages 4 1

- 51, 56, 8 1

, 87, 96, 122, 150, 151 in Karl et al., 2009.

As air and water warm, water resource managers will likely face significant challenges:

• increased pollutant concentrations and lower dissolved oxygen levels will result in higher incidences of impair ed water quality; ( Karl et al. ; p. 46 )

• increased growth of algae and microbes will affect drinking water quality; ( Ibid ; p. 46

, 96 )

• some aquatic taxa will be replaced by other taxa better adapted to warmer water (i.e., cold water fish will be replaced by cool water fish) and this process will likely occur at an uneven pace disrupting aquatic system health and allowing non

- native and/or invasive species to become established ; ( Ibid ; p. 8 1

, 87, 122)

• warmer air temp eratures will increase demand for cooling an d for power production, resulting in increased discharges of warm water from power plants; (I bid; p. 49, 56 )

• increased water use will put stress on water infrastructure and demands on the clean water and drinking water State Revolving Funds; and ( Ibid ; p. 48 , 49 )

• increased evapotranspiration rates resulting from temperature increases may result in
water losses for which drinking water and wetlands managers will need to account ( Ibid ; p. 49 )

Pollution Problems Related to Warmer Air and Water: Effects on Water Programs (Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by air and water temperature increases)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based
Standards Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Mon itoring Water Restoration/

TMDLs Underground Injection
Control Permits Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution
Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SR F Ocean Protection Combined Sewer
Overflow Plans Vulnerability Citations:

D escriptions of vulnerabilities provided in this section are drawn
from: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, Thomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, and Thomas C. Peterson, (eds.). Cambridge University Press, 2009 (Karl et al 2009). Connections of climate impacts to water programs
are the assessment of water

program managers.Page 5 2) Impacts of More Extreme Weather Events:

Heavier precipitation from tropical and inland storms will increase flood risk, expand flood hazard areas, increase the variability of stream flows (i.e., higher hi gh flows and lower low flows) and increase the velocity of water during high flow periods

, thereby increasing erosion. These changes will have adverse effects on water quality and aquatic ecosystem health. For example, increases in intense rainfall may r esult in more nutrients, pathogens, and toxins being washed into waterbodies. For further detail s on these impacts see pages 18, 25, 34

- 36, 41, 44, 88, 94, 95, 102 in Karl et al., 2009.

Water resource managers will face significant challenges as storm inte nsity increases:

• although there is some uncertainty with respect to climate models addressing storm intensity and frequency, emergency plans for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure need to recognize the possibility of both increased risk of high flow and high velocity events due to intense storms as well as potential low flow periods; ( Ibid ;
p. 25, 34

- 36, 44)

• damage from intense storms may increase the demand for public infrastructure funding and may require re

- prioritizing of infrastructure pr ojects; ( Ibid ; p. 4 7 )

• floodplains may expand along major rivers requiring relocation of some water infrastructure facilities and coordination with local planning efforts; ( Ibid ; p. 44 )

• in urban areas, stormwater collection and management systems may need to be redesigned to increase capacity; ( Ibid ; p. 47, 48)

• combined storm and sanitary sewer systems may need to be redesigned because an increase in storm event frequency and intensity can result in more combined sewer overflows causing increased pollutant and pathogen loading; (Ibid; p. 48 , 94, 95 )

• changes in precipitation patterns and intensity may increase the demand for watershed management techniques that mitigate the impacts of intense storms and build resilience into water management through increa sed water retention (e.g., green roofs, smart growth); and (Ibid; p. 41, 44, 45 )

• the management of wetlands for stormwater control purposes and to buffer the impacts of intense storms will be increasingly important. (Ibid; p. 88, 102 )

Extreme Weather: Effects on Water Programs (Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by storm intensity)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based
Standards Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Wat er Restoration/

TMDLs Underground Injection
Control Permits Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution
Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Pro tection Combined Sewer
Overflow PlansPage 6 3) Changes to Water Availability (Rain and Snow Level and Distributio n):

In some parts of the country, droughts, changing patterns of precipitation and

s nowmelt, and increased water loss due to evaporation as a result o f warmer temperatures, will result in changes to the availability of water for drinking and for use for agriculture, industry, and energy production. I n other areas, sea level rise, and salt water intrusion will have the same effect. Warmer air temperatu res may also result in increased demands on water supplies and the water needs for agriculture, industry, and energy production are likely to increase

. For further details on the se impacts see pages

44

- 46, 48, 82, 94, 95, 113, 124, 129 in Karl et al., 200 9.
Changing precipitation patterns pose several challenges for water program managers:

• increased rainfall, especially more intense rainfall, will result in increased stormwater runoff and may make overflows of sanitary sewers and combined sewers more freq uent, putting new demands on discharge permit and nonpoint pollution programs; ( Ibid ; p. 44, 45, 48, 94, 95 )

• increased storm water runoff will wash sediment and other contaminants into drinking water sources, requiring additional treatment; ( Ibid ; p. 44

- 46 )

• additional investments in water infrastructure may be needed to manage both
decreases and increases in rainfall and these demands could increase demand for water financing generally

, including from the State Revolving Funds; ( Ibid ; p. 44

- 46 )

• limit ed water availability and drought in some regions will require drinking water providers to reassess supply facility plans and consider alternative pricing, allocation, and water conservation options; ( Ibid ; p. 44 , 48, 113, 129 )

• in areas with less precipita tion or reduced snowpack , demand for water may shift to underground aquifers and prompt water recycling and reuse, development of new reservoirs, or underground injection of treated water for storage; ( Ibid ; p. 44 , 45, 124 )

• in areas with less precipitation

, reduced stream flow ma y make meeting water quality goals more challenging; and ( Ibid ; p. 44 , 45, 46 )

• increased incidence of wildfire as a result of higher temperatures and drought may increase soil erosion and sedimentation , increase water pollution, in crease risk of flooding, and pose a threat to aquatic habitats and water infrastructure. ( Ibid ; p. 8 2 )

Changes in Rainfall and Snowfall Levels/Distribution: Effects on Water Programs (Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by rainfall and snowfall l evels)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based
Standards Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/

TMDLs Underground Injection
Control Permits Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution
Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer
Overflow PlansPage 7 4) Sea Level Rise/Storm S u rge and Waterbody Bou ndary Movement and Displacement:

Rising sea levels will move ocean and estuarine shorelines by inundating lowlands, displacing wetlands, and altering the tidal range in rivers and bays. Storm surges resulting from more extreme weather events will increas e the areas subject to periodic inundation. Changing water flow to lakes and streams, increased evaporation, and changed precipitation in some areas, will affect the extent of wetlands and lakes. Water levels in the Great Lakes are expected to fall

. For further details on the se impacts see pages 12, 25, 34, 47, 48, 84, 109, 114, 138, 152 in Karl et al., 2009.

Sea level rise, storm surges, and waterbody movement will affect a range of water programs and pose significant challenges for water program manag ers:

• emergency plans for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure need to account for long

- term projections for rising sea levels; ( Ibid ; p. 12, 25, 34, 47, 114)

• drinking water systems will need to consider relocating facilities or intakes as sea leve ls rise and salt water intrudes into freshwater aquifers used for drinking water supply; ( Ibid ; p. 47 , 138 )

• sewage treatment plants will need to consider relocation of some treatment facilities and discharge outfalls as a result of sea level rise ; and ( Ibi d ; p. 12, 109, 152 )

• watershed

- level planning will need to incorporate an integrated approach to coastal management in light of sea level rise including land use planning, building codes, land acquisition and easements, shoreline protection structures (e.g. , seawalls and channels), beach nourishment, wetlands management, and underground injection to control salt water intrusion to fresh water supplies

. ( Ibid ; p. 12, 49, 84, 114)

Sea Level Rise/Storm Surge: Effects on Water Programs (Shaded areas reflect p rograms most affected by sea level rise)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based
Standards Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/

TMDLs Underground Injection

Cont rol Permits Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution
Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer
Overflow PlansPage 8 5) Collectiv e Impacts on Coastal Areas:

Coastal areas are likely to see multiple impacts associated with climate change including : sea level rise, increased damage from floods and storm surges, coastal erosion, changes in drinking water supplies, and increasing temp erature and
acidification of the oceans (e.g., decreases in pH, decreases in carbonate ion availability for calcifying organisms ). These overlapping impacts make protecting water resources in coastal areas especially challenging. For further details on t he se impacts see pages 17, 43, 47, 84, 85, 148, 151 in Karl et al., 2009.

Changes in ocean characteristics pose several challenges for water program managers including:

• w atershed

- level protection programs may need to be revised to account for changes in natural systems as salinity and pH levels change; ( Ibid ; p. 17, 43, 47, 151 )

• climate change and ocean acidification may exacerbate existing stresses on coral reefs
such that programs to protect coral reefs, including temperate and cold water corals,
from l and

- based pollution and impacts may need to be reassessed to provide enhanced protection; and ( Ibid ; p. 84, 85 , 148 )

• wetlands programs may need to be adjusted to account for changing salinity levels and impacts on wetlands health. ( Ibid ; p. 47, 84 )

Chang ing Ocean Characteristics: Effects on Water Programs (Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by changing ocean characteristics)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based
Standards Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/

TMDLs

Underground Injection
Control Permits Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution
Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program

D rinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer
Overflow PlansPage 9 6) Indirect Impacts Resulting from Changes in Energy and Fuel Production:

Possible responses to climate change include development of alternative methods of energy and fuel pr oduction that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, as well as development of carbon sequestration technology. Alternative methods of both energy production and sequestration can have impacts on water resources including: increased
water use and withdraw als, potential nonpoint pollution impacts of expanded agricultural production, increased water temperatures due to discharge of process cooling waters and reduced assimilative capacity of warmer waters

, increased pollution
concentration due to low flows, a nd effects of carbon sequestration on groundwater or
ocean environments. For further details on these impacts see pages 48, 49, 56, 59, 60,
74 in Karl et al., 2009.

Changing energy generation methods poses several challenges for water program managers
in cluding:

• increased water use and withdrawals will require expanded efforts to ensure water supply availability; ( Ibid ; p. 48, 49, 5 6 )

• increased water supply demands and more variable water supplies will have effects on water resource management and r eserv oir operation; (Ibid; p. 48, 49, 59, 60 )

• need for increased attention to discharge permit conditions to address increased temperature and concentration of pollutants due to low flows; ( Ibid ; p. 49, 56 )

Energy Generation Shifts: Effects on Water Programs (Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by energy generation shifts)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based
Standards Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/

T MDLs

Underground Injection
Control Permits Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution
Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined S ewer Overflow PlansPage 10 

## I II. Priority Actions

Recognizing the impacts that a changing climate is likely to have on water resources generally

, and clean water and drinking water programs more specifically, the Office of Water identified
criteria to conside r in defining “priority actions” to respond to these impacts and make the

wat er programs more “climate ready

. ” These criteria, and the “priority actions” defined based on the criteria, are described below. The Office of Water commitment to “mainstreamin g” climate considerations into the full range of core clean water and drinking water programs is
also described. S ome specific core programs that, although designed for other purpose s , have clear benefits in responding to a chang ing climate, are identifie d.

In addition, EPA Regional offices play a central role in implementing clean water and drinking water programs and are especially important because they are in a position to tailor implementation actions to the varied climate change and water adaptati on challenges that exist
across the country . Additionally, EPA Region al offices are able to work closely with States,
Tribes

, and other stakeholders to advance these activities. The Office of Water and Regional office water programs have identified a set of nine “co mmon ” activities that water programs in
each Region al office will attempt to implement beginning in 2013 to build their capability to support adaptation to climate change adaptation challenges related to water resources. These
common climate c hange and water actions are described at the end of this section.



### Criteria to Identify Priority Actions

Since resources to implement climate change response actions are limited, it is important to consider the significance of the impacts and to allocat e scarce resource s to response actions that address the most pressing and critical threats.

Some key criteria to consider when linking climate change impacts to potential response
actions include:

 Urgency : What is the timing of the impact? H ow urgen t is it that it be addressed?
 Risk: How significant is the risk to public health, infrastructure, or aquatic ecosystems?  Geographic Scale: What is the geographic/demographic scale of the impact?
 Programmatic Scale: What is the scale of the programmatic impact?
 Probability of Occurrence: What is the likelihood the impact will actually occur?Page 11 

### Office of Water 2013 Priority A ctions

Based on consideration of the criteria identified above, the Office of Water identified ten “priority actions”

. Thes e actions were identified from a larger group of national program office
and r egional water program actions described in the 2013 Workplan which is an internal, working document supporting implementation of the 2012 Strategy.

1. Publish Version 2.0 of the Climate Resiliency Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) for public use and support EPA Regions and States in encouraging water utilities to implement CREAT.

2. P romote use of an Extreme Events Workshop Planner designed to provide everything a

water sector utility needs to plan, customize, and conduct a workshop focused on planning for extreme events including flooding, drought, sea level rise and storm surges, wildfire, and reduced snowpack.

3. In cooperation with EPA regional offices, expand the number of WaterSense partners nationally and in each Region , with a goal of a 150 additional partners in 2013.

4. Recognize and encourage climate change consideration in the management of Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds.

5. Publish a Waters hed Climate Change Adaptation Planning Workbook developed by the Climate Ready Estuary Program.

6. Begin development of initial screening criteria to identify water and wastewater facilities on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts that may be at risk of inundation in the event of a storm surge comparable to Hurricane Sandy.

7. Work with EPA Regional office counterparts to identify ways to better integrate climate change considerations into w ater q uality m anagement p lanning projects and

processes and develop an ini tial report.

8. Complete technical development and beg i n testing the Climate Assessment Tool (CAT)
as a module for the Stormwater Calculator based on the Stormwater Management
Model (SWMM)

.

9. Draft a white paper providing information S tates and T ribes can use to protect aquatic life from negative effects associated with alteration of hydrologic conditions , including potential effects from climate change

.

10. Engage key stakeholders in climate change adaptation work by continuing to support
the State and Trib al Climate Change C ouncil that advises the National Water Program.Page 12 It is important to note that a key objective of the 2012 Strategy is to integrate climate change considerations and awareness into day

- to

- day management decisions for clean water and
drink ing water programs at national, Regional, State, Tribe, and local levels. The National Water program is facilitating this “mainstreaming” of climate change into core water programs by providing information and training to water program managers on climat e change issues and prompting discussions of opportunities to recognize climate change in program management wherever possible. The Office of Water at EPA Headquarters is also working with EPA water programs in the ten EPA R e gions to address climate chang e and water issues generally, as well as specific challenges that occur in each Region (see common EPA Regional climate change actions below).

In addition to the specific “priority actions” identified above, the National Water Program conducts a range of programs that, although not designed to directly or uniquely address the impacts of a changing climate, make important contributions to making water resources more resilient to the impacts of a chang ing climate. Some examples of climate change

- supporting

programs include:

• Wetlands programs that help protect and restore wetlands that serve as sponges to retain water from more intense storm events, increased precipitation, and more rapid snowmelt;

• Stormwater permit programs that reduce pollution levels a nd the rate of runoff of rainfall in developed areas with large percentages of impervious surfaces and programs that promote improved stormwater management through implementation
of “green infrastructure” practices;

• Healthy watershed programs that help ma intain the quality of healthy watersheds and supportive habitat corridor networks across the country that provide resilience to climate change impacts;

• The National Estuary Program supports development and implementation of Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs) in 28 estuaries around the country and had supported the development of a range of projects to address climate change challenges faced in these estuaries.

• Infrastructure management progra ms to expand the use of management practices that make water and wastewater treatment facilities more sustainable, including practices that improve resilience to climate change; and

• Monitoring programs, such as the National Coastal Condition R eport , that can provide benchmarks of progress in addressing key climate change impacts.Page 13 

### Common Climate Change Actions for Regional Water Programs

E ach Regional water program will attempt to carry out the following c ommon climate change
related activities in 20 13:

1. Participate in the National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup: Maintain current participation in the National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup, including identifying a single point of contact for the Regional water program.

2. Support the EPA Office of Water’s Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan : Help to develop and implement the EPA

- wide Office of Water’s Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan and coordinate between the National Water Program 2012 Strategy and the EPA r eg ional a daptation i mplementation p lans.

3. Build Internal Climate Change Communications: After the completion of the EPA Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan, draw on materials developed by the
Office of Water to provide training for Regional wate r program staff on the challenges that climate change poses for water programs and familiarize them with the National Water Program 2012 Strategy and Regional c limate a daptation p lans through a variety
of means such as “all hands” meeting s, webinars, semin ars, and dissemination of the plans.

4. Build Exter nal Climate Change Communications: Support national program efforts to inform and educate water program managers in the public and private sector s on climate change and water issues through a variety of m eans such as identifying key stakeholders and expanding professional networks, improving educational outreach efforts on National and Regional EPA climate change websites and in other media, and disseminating clear and credible messaging on climate change science and impacts

.

5. Address Climate Change in Meetings with States and Tribes: In program meetings with States and Tribes in 2013, include discussion of ongoing Agency and Region al climate change adaptation planning, the new National Water Program 201 2 Strategy

, and climate change activities related to State water programs as appropriate.

6. Support Coordination Among Federal Agency Regional Office s : C oordinat e with the regional offices of other Federal agencies on climate change adaptation matters a nd participate, where appropriate, with related interagency cooperative and collaborative
efforts to address climate change challenges on a regional scale.

7. Promote Use of Tools from the Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) and Climate Ready Estuaries (CR E) P rograms: W ork with municipal and private water utilities to promote use of the new C limate R eady Resilience and Awareness (CREAT) Version 2.0 to recognize and respond to climate change risks , and promote with National EstuaryPage 14 Program partners the use of the new Climate Ready Estuaries workbook to develop local climate resilience plans

.

8. Develop Regional WaterSense Partners: Work with States, Tribes, municipalities, non

profit organizations and businesses to promote the WaterSense Program in the regio n

.

9. Work with State Revolving Loan Fund Programs to recognize climate change impacts.Page 15 

## IV

. Office of Water Contribution to Meeting EPA Strategic Measures on Climate Change

The EPA Strategic Plan identifies several objectives for strengthening the Ag ency response to a changing climate by 2015. The Office of Water is committed to contributing to the Agency work to meet these objectives. The Agency objective and the Office of Water contribution to meeting the objective are identified below. Impleme ntation plans from other offices within EPA address additional steps to be taken to meet these objectives.

• Save energy and conserve resources : The Office of Water will support this objective through measures to reduce energy use at wastewater treatment p lants and through the WaterSense program

.

• Integrate climate change science into five major models and/or decision support tool s : The Office of Water will support this objective through publication of Version 2.0 of the
Climate Resilience Evaluation and A wareness Tool (CREAT) for water utilities

.

• Integrate climate change science or trend information into five major rulemaking

processes : The Office of Water National Water Program will support this objective through the development of a water program regul ation prior to 2015 . The specific regulation is not yet determined.

• Integrate climate change considerations into five major grant, loan, or technical assistance programs : The Office of Water will s upport meeting this objective through integrating clima te change in the National Estuary Program g rant p rogram.

The Office of Water will monitor progress in supporting these Agency objectives annually and will adjust programs and activities as needed to assure that the water program contributions to
meetin g the goals are achieved by the 2015 due date.



## V. Legal and E nforcement I ssues

The Office of Water works closely with the Office of General Counsel and matters related to climate change and water resources and will continue this working relationship i n the future. To date, water program actions to respond to a changing climate have not faced significant legal issues.

As noted in S ection IX of this Plan, the Office of Water is interested in initiating a pilot project
for collaboration with the Offi ce of Enforcement and Compliance and Assurance addressing inclusion of climate change considerations in compliance and enforcement activities

.Page 16 

## VI. Training and O utreach

The Office of Water will continue and exp a nd current work to provide training to w ater program managers on climate change issues and to ensure strong communication and coordination among EPA water program offices, Regional Offices, other Federal agencies, and
stakeholders. These training and outreach materials are addressed in Goal 17 of the 2012 Strategy.



### Training

The Office of Water will continue to work to provi de training on climate change impacts on water resources, and especially on the impacts on clean water and drinking water programs. Some key actions the Office of Water will take include:

 Update the Office of Water Climate Change Adaptation training module for EPA water program staff to include updated information about climate change response actions ;

 Continue the monthly Climate Change and Water Seminar series
, which invites expert s in climate change and water issues to speak to EPA H eadquarters and Regional staff ;

 Continue to support the Climate Change Module at the Water Quality S tandards Academy that presents an overview of climate change impacts on water resou rces and climate change vulnerabili ty considerations for managers and review climate training related to the Watershed Academy;

 Participate in the Agency workgroup tasked with developing an Agency

- wide climate change adaptation training module for EPA sta ff ;

 Work with Regions to develop a model P owerPoint presentation that EPA Regional water programs can use to describe the climate change and water issues generally, with a focus on the implementation of the National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Respons e to Climate Change ; and

 Sponsor an all

- hands meeting a fter the completion of the EPA Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan t o generally familiarize all staff with the challenges that climate change poses and to describe the new Agency Implementati on Plan with special emphasis on the 2012 Strategy for the National Water Program and this water program 2013 Implementation Plan

.Page 17 

### Outreach

The Office of Water will support several activities to cooperate with other EPA offices, Federal agencies and other organizations interested in addressing the impacts of a changing climate on

water resources including:

 Continue to support the Office of Water Climate Change Workgroup and provide oversight and management of National Water Program climate change ac tions, including implementation of the National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change (this Workgroup includes staff from national program offices, other EPA offices, EPA regional offices, and Great Waterbody offices);

 C ontinue to supp ort the State and Tribal Climate Change Co uncil that advises the National Water Program on a full range of climate change adaptation issues, including implementation of the National Water Program 2012 Strategy : Response to Climate Change ;

 Continue to serv e as co
- chair of the Interagency Water Resources Workgroup that supports the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force and provide staff support to this Workgroup that oversees the implementation of the National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate ;

 Serve as the 2013 Federal a gency co
- chair of the Climate Change Workgroup of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) in support of the non

- Federal co

chair from the Wate r Environment Federation ;

 Continue to manage the EPA climate change and water website providing information and materials on a range of climate change and water topics;

 Continue to publish the EPA Climate Change and Water News listserv and consider options t o expand the number of listserv addresses (now serving approximately 2,500 email addresses) with a goal of doubling the number of email addresses in 2013 ;

 Work with EPA Regions to support efforts to link and coordinate Office of Water climate change website content with cli mate change content provided on Regional water program websites ;

 Work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider becoming a partner with the Corps in the operation and management of the Water Resources Toolbox website which provides a one stop we bsite of information on a range of water resources management issues, including climate change ;Page 18  Work with EPA Region 10, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the State of Washington, and other interested agencies and Tribes on issues rel ated to assessing water quality criteria relevant to ocean and coastal acidification ( e.g., aragonite saturation state (calcium carbonate availability for calcareous organisms’ shell building) ; and

 Work with the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate pr ogress in understanding and developing innovative technologies and processes that lead to improved management of both water resources and energy production including topics such as :

o Integrated water r esource m anagement ;

o Water q uality;

o Use and r euse of w astewater for p ower g eneration;

o Emergency r esponse and r ecovery; and

o t hermoelectric g eneration

.Page 19 

## VII. Partnerships with Tr ibes

EPA values its unique government

- to

- government relationship with Indian tribes in planning and decision making

. Supporting t he development of capacity to adapt to climate change among tribes is a priority for the EPA. Tribes are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the integral nature of the environment within their traditional lifeways
and culture. There is a strong need to develop adaptation strategies that promote sustainability and reduce the impact of climate change on Indian tribes.

EPA engaged tribes through a formal consultation process in the development of the Agency’s Climate Change Adaptat ion Plan

. Tribes identified some of the most pressing issues as erosion, temperature change, drought and various changes in access to and quality of water. Tribes recommended a number of tools and strategies to address these issues, including improving

a ccess to data and information; supporting baseline research to better track the effects of climate change; developing community

- level education and awareness materials; and providing financial and technical support. These collaborative efforts will benefi t from the expertise provide by our tribal partners and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) they possess. TEK is a valuable body of knowledge in assessing the current and future impacts of climate change and has been used by tribes for millennia as a valuable tool to adapt to changing surroundings.

The Office of Water has a strong partnership with Tribes and works closely with Tribes in the implementation of clean water and drinking water programs. This partnership extends to work
on issues relati ng to climate change and water.

The 2012 Strategy addresses cooperation with Tribes on climate change and water matters in Goals 15 and 16. Some key objectives of these goals include:

 S trategic Action 4 7: Through formal consultation and other mecha nisms, incorporate

c limate change as a key consideration in the revised National Water Program Tribal Strategy and subsequent implementation of C lean W ater A ct (CWA)

, Safe Drinking Water Act ( SDWA ) , and other core programs

 Strategic Action 48: Incorpora te adaptation into tribal funding mechanisms, and collaborate with other EPA and federal funding programs to support sustainability and adaptation in tribal communities

 Strategic Action 49: Collaborate to explore and develop climate change science,
infor mation, and tools for T ribes, and incorporate local knowledge

 S trategic Action 5 0: Collaborate to develop communication materials relevant for tribal
uses and tribal audiencesPage 20 Some key actions that the Office of Water will implement to advance the goa l of supporting Tribes in responding to the water related impacts of climate change include:

 Continue to support the State and Tribal Climate Change C ouncil as a vehicle for sharing information and hearing the views of Tribes on climate change issues ;

 Include a presentation addressing Tribal climate change recommendations at the next
Office of Water Tribal water quality conference, planned for 201 5 ;

 Identify climate change activities as a priority in the new National Water Program
Tribal S trategy , wh ich will be developed during 2013 ;

 Continue to support sustainability and adaptation in tribal communities in coordination
with the EPA

- Tribal Science Council (TSC), as the TSC implements its tribal science priorities for Climate Change and Traditional E cological Knowledge (TEK) in 2013 (e.g the Office of Water will develop and incorporate water

- resource specific information into materials, presentations, and training developed as part of, or follow

- up to, an upcoming tribal Traditional Ecological Kno wledge and climate change adaptation workshop in 2013 ) ;

 C ollaborate with the EPA American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) to incorporate climate change adaptation into the tribal General Assistance Program (GAP) grant guidance ;

 W ork with Tribes to identify the most pressing and significant impacts tha t a changing climate poses for t ribal management of water resources and support actions to respond to climate change related vulnerabilities ; and

P artner with t ribal stakeholders to develop and pilot the Tribal

- Focused Environmental Risk Screening Tool (Tribal

- FERST) , a web

- based geo s patial and information access tool to support tribal environmental decision making that provides access to relevant
science and information that can be used to hel p identify, prioritize

, and manage environmental and public health issues.Page 21 

## VIII

. Vulnerable Populations and Places

Certain parts of the population, such as children, the elderly, minorities, the poor, persons with underlying medical conditions and disabilities, those with limited access to information, and tribal and indigenous populations, can be especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Also, certain geographic locations and communities are particularly vulnerable, such as
those located in low

- lying coastal areas. One of the principles guiding EPA’s efforts to integrate climate adaptation into its programs, policies and rules calls for its adaptation plans to prioritize helping people, places and infrastructure that are most vul nerable to climate impacts and to be designed and implemented with meaningful involvement from all parts of society.

The Office of Water is giving special attention to populations and places that are most vulnerable to the water related impacts of a chang ing climate. As noted above, the Office of Water is working closely with Tribes to respond to climate change impacts on water resources.

In the case of vulnerable places, the Office of Water is supporti ng national program initiatives that address pla ces that are especially vulnerable to a changing climate. For example, the Climate Ready Estuaries program advances climate adaptation work in many of the 28 estuaries
that participat e in the National Estuary Program.

In addition, the Office of Water w ill work with EPA regional offices to support climate change adaptation work by Great Waterbody offices (e.g., the Chesapeake Bay Program Office and the
Great Lakes National Program Office) as well as other large ecosystem programs . Some examples of actio ns planned for 2013 in this area are provided below.

 The Chesapeake Bay Program Office will de velop a research coordination and support program to address climate change issues in the Chesapeake Bay

.

 The Great Lakes National Program Office will initia te the Climate Change Impacts
Annex Subcommittee to the newly formed Great Lakes Executive Committee under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with Canada and develop and implement a bi

national workplan to undertake activities over the next three year s to fulfill the
commitments in the annex.

 EPA Region 10 will a ddress climate change in grants to support protection and
restoration of Puget Sound consistent with the Puget Sound Action Agenda including:

o c onduct an erosion survey to evaluate sea leve l rise threat in San Juan County;

o m ap habitat and infrastructure vulnerability in Puget Sound and restoration potential for reducing vulnerability;

o Tribes and counties will incorporate climate change in their plans and/or analyses.Page 22 Puget Sound Grant p artners include: Puget Sound Partnership, Friends of the San Juans, The Nature Conservancy, Snohomish County, Washington Dep ar t ment of Ecology, Samish Indian Nation, Swinomish Tribe, Nooksack Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, and Port
Gamble Indian Commission

.

 EPA Region s 1 and 2 will issue a draft of the revised Lake Champlain TMDL, including an analysis of potential effects of climate change on phosphor ous loads to the L ake

, in

F iscal Y ear 2014

.

 EPA Region s 2 and 3 will support the Partnership for the Delaware Es tuary efforts toward climate change adaption planning by expanding upon the work of the climate change adaptation plan of 2010 including :

o creating a living shorelines process document that combines their knowledge of the Delaware Estuary Living Shorelines Initiative planning, installation, and outreach processes and best practices; and

o c ontinue recruiting communities to the Weathering Change program in which the agencies work with the community to help them understand the weather

related changes that are beginning to happen in their communit y.

 EPA Region s 1 and 2 are supporting the Long Island Sound program in implementing the “Sentinels of Climate Change: Coastal Indicators of Wildlife and Ecosystem Change” project in Long Island Sound. The project w ill address several of the key climate change sentinels identified by the Sentinel Monitoring program, including the responses of critical and sensitive habitats, such as salt marsh and tidal flats, and how changes in these ecosystems impact the population and behavior patterns of key bird species inhabiting them.

 EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4 are working with other federal agencies (e.g., the U. S. Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Army Corps of Engineers) and S tates to manage development of off

- shore renewable energy facilities, including identify areas best suited for wind energy production

. EPA
will have significant N ational Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibilities once projects are proposed and

, to a lesser degree, Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act (CAA) permitting responsibilities.Page 23 

## IX

. Evaluation and C ross
- Office P ilot P rojects

Work is underway within the Office of Water to develop strong program evaluation practices for assessing progress in responding to climate change impacts and to develop effective collaborations with other EPA national program offices are described below.

Evaluation of Progress

The National Water Program initiated a new process in 2012 to track progress in implement ing climate change response programs based on assessing the stage or phase of development of efforts to implement each of the 19 major Goals identified in the 2012 Strategy . Progress toward each of the 19 Goals was assessed by program staff in the contex t of one of seven phases of development. The seven developmental phases are:

1. Initiation ; c onduct a screening assessment of potential implications of climate change to mission, programs, and operations;

2. Assessment ; c onduct a broader review to understa nd how climate change affects the resources in question;

3. Response Development ; i dentify changes necessary to continue to reach program mission and goals and develop initial action plan;

4. Initial Implementation ; initiate actions in selected priority progr ams or projects

5. Robust Implementation ; programs are underway and lessons learned are being applied to additional programs and projects;

6. Mainstreaming; c limate is an embedded, component of the program ; and

7. Monitor Outcomes and Adaptive Management; c on tinue to monitor and integrate performance, new information, and lessons learned into programs and plans

.

In the 2012 Highlights of Progress (see http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange ) the Office of

W ater identified the status of work on each of the Goals in the 2012 Strategy (see Appendix 1 )
as of December 2012. Th is 2012 baseline assessment has a total numeric value of 43 out of a total possible score of 133 (i.e., 19 Goals times a score of 7 for e ach action = 133 ). This combined score indicates that many actions are in the early stages of implementation. Future annual progress reports will identify the cumulative progress toward full
i mplementation of the 2012 Strategy in both narrative and nume ric terms.Page 24 In the future, the Office of Water will work to develop metrics that assess the readiness of clean water programs in the face of a changing climate and the contribution that water programs make toward reducing releases of greenhouse gases (e.g., reducing water use which reduces energy use, or generating energy from wastewater treatment to lower carbon footprints of these facilities).

Cross

- Organization Projects

EPA’s Office of Water is engaged in two major cross

- organization projects rel ated to climate change adaptation:

 Collaboration on National Estuaries Program : The Office of Water, in collaboration
with EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) has funded 37 projects with 23 National Estuary Programs (NEPs ) in six EPA Regions through t he Climate Ready Estuaries Program. In 2012, the program completed the first Climate Ready Water U tilities pilot project, held a lessons lea rned workshop with NEPs in EPA Region 1, held a joint stakeholder meeting with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and promoted Fall 2011 king tide sea level rise education campaigns with 10 NEPs. In addition, two NEPs collaborated with EPA’s Office of Research and Development to pilot test an expert elicitation approach to address climate chang e vulnerability assessments. In 2013, the Office of Water will continue to work with OAR to help National E stuary
P rograms respond to a changing climate.

 Collaboration on Evaluation: The Office of Water has undertaken a measurement and evaluation proje ct through EPA’s Office of Policy’s Evaluation Support Division to guide implementation of National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change ( 2012 Strategy ). The purpose of this project is to :

• develop a robust performance measurement appro ach for the 2012 Strategy ; and

• identify lessons learned from the 2008 Strategy that can inform implementation of the new strategy.

The Office of Water views measurement in general, and this project specifically, as critical for the long

- term success of the 2012 Strategy

.

 Collaboration on Climate and Water Research: T he Office of Water has a longstanding collaboration with the Office of Research and Development (ORD) to ensure that climate change issues are addressed to the extent possible in water resea rch supported by the Agency. In 2013, the Office of Water and ORD will begin quarterly meetings to review progress and set directions for research related to climate change and water and will organize research projects from different parts of ORD accordi ng to the specific goals
identified in the 2012 Strategy.Page 25 Potential future collaborations with other EPA Offices include:

 Collaboration on Enforcement Issues: The Office of Water is interested in working with
the Office of E nforcement and Compliance A ssurance to identify opportunities to recognize the impacts of a changing climate on water resources in the context of compliance and enforcement activities and actions through the use of green infrastructure, climate resilient approaches, and other measur es

.

 Collaboration on Storm Surge Screening Criteria: The Office of Water is working with Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 to begin development of initial screening criteria that could be used to identify water and wastewater facilities that may be at risk is inundation as a result of a storm surge event comparable to that generated by Hurricane Sandy.Page 26 Page intentionally left blankPage 27 

# APPENDIC ESPage 28 Page intentionally left blankPage 29 

### Appendix 1:

SUPPORTING ACTIONS AND 2012 BASELINE AS SESSMENTS /SCORES

Visions and

Goals Strategic Actions (SA) 2012 Development Phase / Score

Infrastructure: In the face of a changing climate, resilient and adaptable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities (water sector) ensure clean and safe water to p rotect the nation’s public health and environment by making smart investment decisions to improve the sustainability of their infrastructure and operations and the communities they serve, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through greater energy effic iency.

Goal 1: Build the body

of information

and tools

needed to
incorporate climate change

into planning

and decision making. SA1: Improve access to vetted climate and hydrological science, modeling, and assessment tools through the Climate Ready Wat er Utilities program.

Phase:

Response Development

Score:

3 SA2: Assist wastewater and water utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase long

- term sustainability with a combination of energy efficiency, co

- generation, and increased use

of renewable energy resources.

SA3: Work with the states and public water systems, particularly small water systems, to identify and plan for climate change challenges to drinking water safety and to assist in meeting health based drinking water standard s.

SA4: Promote sustainable design approaches to provide for the long

- term sustainability of infrastructure and operations.

Goal 2:
Support IWRM to sustainably

manage water

resources. SA5: Understand and promote through technical assistance the

us e of water supply management strategies. Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA6: Evaluate and provide technical assistance on the use of water demand management strategies.

SA7: Increase cross

- sector knowledge of water supply climate challenges and develo p watershed specific information to inform decision making.Page 30 Visions and

Goals Strategic Actions 2012 Development Phase / Score

Watersheds & Wetlands : Watersheds are protected, maintained and restored to ensure climate resilience and to preserve the so cial and economic benefits they provide; and the nation’s wetlands are maintained and improved using integrated approaches that recognize their inherent value as well as their role in reducing the impacts of climate change.

Goal 3: Identify, protect,

and maintain a

network of

healthy

watersheds and
supportive

habitat corridor

networks. SA8: Develop a national framework and support efforts to protect remaining healthy watersheds and aquatic ecosystems. Phase:

Response Development

Score:

3 SA9: Collab orate with partners on terrestrial ecosystems and hydrology so that effects on water quality and aquatic ecosystems are considered.

SA10: Integrate protection of healthy watersheds throughout the

N ational W ater P rogram (NWP) core programs.

SA11: I ncrease public awareness of the role and importance of healthy watersheds in reducing the impacts of climate change.

Goal 4:
Incorporate

climate resilience

into watershed

restoration and floodplain

management. SA12: Consider a means of accounting for climate change in EPA funded and other watershed restoration projects. Phase:

Response Development

Score:

3 SA13: Work with federal, state, interstate, tribal, and local partners to protect and restore the natural resources and

functions of riverine an d coastal floodplains as a means of building resiliency and protecting water quality.

Goal 5:

Watershed
protection practices incorporate

Source Water

Protection to protect drinking water supplies. SA14: Encourage states to update their source water

del ineations, assessments or protection plans to address anticipated climate change impacts. Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA15: Continue to support collaborative efforts to increase state and local awareness of source water protection needs and
opportuniti es, and encourage inclusion of source water protection areas in local climate change adaptation initiatives.Page 31 Visions and

Goals Strategic Actions 2012 Baseline

Assessment

Watersheds & Wetlands (continued)

Goal 6 : Incorporate climate change

considerati ons
into the CWA 404 regulatory program as they relate to permit

reviews and

compensatory

mitigation. SA16: Consider the effects of climate change, as appropriate, when making significant degradation determinations in the CWA Section 404 wetlands permitti ng and enforcement program Phase:

Initiation

Score:

1 SA17: Evaluate, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, how wetland and stream compensation projects could be selected, designed, and sited to aid in reducing the effects of

climate ch ange.

Goal 7 : Improve baseline

information on wetland extent,

condition and performance to

inform effective

adaptation to climate change. SA18: Expand wetland mapping by supporting wetland mapping coalitions and training on use of the new federal Wetla nd Mapping Standard. Phase:

Initiation

Score:

1 SA19: Produce a statistically valid, ecological condition

assessment of the nation’s wetlands.

SA20: Work with partners and stakeholders to develop information and tools to support long term planning and priority setting for wetland restoration projects.Page 32 Visions and

Goals Strategic Actions 2012 Baseline

Assessment

Coastal and Ocean Waters : Adverse effects of climate change and unintended adverse consequences of responses to climate change have been successfully prevented or reduced in the ocean and coastal environment. Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and institutions are working cooperatively; and information necessary to integrate climate change considerations i nto ocean and coastal management is produced, readily available, and used.

Goal 8:

Collaborate to

ensure
information and methodologies

for ocean and

coastal areas are collected, produced, analyzed, and easily available. SA21: Collaborate to ensure that synergy occurs, lessons learned are transferred, federal efforts effectively help local communities, and efforts are not duplicative or at cross

- purposes. Phase:
Response Development

Score:

3 SA22: Work within EPA and with the U.S. Global Change Resear ch Program and other federal, tribal, and state agencies to collect, produce, analyze, and format knowledge and information needed to protect ocean and coastal areas and make it easily available.

Goal 9:

EPA geographically targeted

programs support and build networks of local,
tribal, state, regional and

federal

collaborators to

take effective

adaptation

measures for

coastal and

ocean
environments. SA23: Work with the NWP’s larger geographic programs to incorporate climate change considerations, focusin g on both the

natural and built environments.

Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA24: Address climate change adaptation and build stakeholder capacity when implementing NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans and through the Climate Ready Estuarie s Program.

SA25: Conduct outreach and education, and provide technical assistance to state and local watershed organizations and communities to build adaptive capacity in coastal areas outside the NEP and Large Aquatic Ecosystem programs.Page 33 Visions and

Goals Strategic Actions 2012 Baseline

Assessment

Coastal and Ocean Waters (continued)

Goal 10:

Address climate

driven

environmental

changes in

coastal areas and

ensure that mitigation and adaptation are

conducted in an environmentally responsible

ma nner. SA26: Support coastal wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water infrastructure owners and operators in reducing climate risks and encourage adaptation in coastal areas.

Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA27: Support climate readiness of coastal commun ities, including hazard mitigation, pre

- disaster planning, preparedness, and recovery efforts.

SA28: Support preparation and response planning for diverse impacts to coastal aquatic environments.

Goal 11: Ocean

environments are protected by EPA

progr ams that

incorporate

shifting

environmental
conditions, and other emerging

threats. SA29: Consider climate change impacts on marine water quality in NWP ocean management authorities, policies, and programs.

Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA30: Use availa ble authorities and work with the Regional Ocean Organizations and other federal and state agencies through regional ocean groups and other networks so that offshore renewable energy production does not adversely affect

the marine environment.

SA31: Su pport the evaluation of sub

- seabed sequestration of CO 2 and any proposals for ocean fertilization.

SA32: Participate in interagency development and implementation of federal strategies through the National Ocean Council ( NOC ) and the NOC Strategic Acti on Plans.Page 34 Visions and
Goals Strategic Actions 2012 Baseline

Assessment

Water Quality : Our Nation’s surface water, drinking water, and ground water quality are protected, and the risks of climate change to human health and the environment are diminis hed, through a variety of adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Goal 12:
Protect waters of
the United States

and promote management of

sustainable
surface water

resources. SA33: Encourage states and communities to incorporate climate change consideratio ns into their water quality planning.

Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA34: Encourage green infrastructure and low

- impact development to protect water quality and make watersheds
more resilient.

SA35: Promote consideration of climate change impacts by

N ational Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting
authorities.

SA36: Encourage water quality authorities to consider climate change impacts when developing wasteload and load allocations in TMDLs where appropriate.

SA37: Identify and protec t designated uses that are at risk from climate change impacts.

SA38: Clarify how to re

- evaluate aquatic life water quality criteria on more regular intervals; and develop information to assist states and tribes who are developing criteria that incorp orate climate change considerations for hydrologic condition.

Goal 13:
As the nation
makes decisions

to reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions and develop
alternative sources of energy and fuel, the
NWP will work to

protect water resources from

unintended

adverse

consequences. SA39: Continue to provide perspective on the water resource implications of new energy technologies.

Phase:

Initiation

Score:

1 SA40: Provide assistance to states and permittees to assure that geologic sequestration of CO 2 is res ponsibly managed.

SA41: Continue to work with States to help them identify polluted waters, including those affected by biofuels production, and help them develop and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for those waters.

SA42: Provide infor mational materials for stakeholders to encourage the consideration of alternative sources of energy and fuels that are water efficient and maintain water quality.

SA43: As climate change affects the operation or placement of reservoirs, EPA will work w ith other federal agencies and EPA programs to understand the combined effects of climate change and hydropower on flows, water temperature, and water quality.Page 35 Visions and

Goals Strategic Actions 2012 Baseline

Assessment

Water Quality (continued)

Goal 14:

Collaborate to

make hydrological and

climate data and
projections

available. SA44: Monitor climate change impacts to surface waters and ground water. Phase:
Response Development

Score:

3 SA45: Collaborate with other federal agencies to develop ne w methods for use of updated precipitation, storm frequency, and observational streamflow data, as well as methods for evaluating projected changes in low flow conditions.

SA46: Enhance flow estimation using National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus).

Working With Tribes: Tribes are able to preserve, adapt, and maintain the viability of their culture, traditions, natural resources, and economies in the face of a changing climate.

Goal 15:
Incorporate climate change

considerations in

the implemen tation of core programs,

and collaborate

with other EPA

Offices and federal Agencies

to work with

tribes on climate change issues on

a multi

- media

basis. SA47: Through formal consultation and other mechanisms, incorporate climate change as a key consider ation in the revised NWP Tribal Strategy and subsequent implementation of CWA, SDWA, and other core programs.

Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA48: Incorporate adaptation into tribal funding mechanisms, and collaborate with other EPA and federal funding pro grams to support sustainability and adaptation in tribal communities.

Goal 16:

Tribes have

access to
information on climate change

for decision

making. SA49: Collaborate to explore and develop climate change science, information, and tools for tribes, and incorporate local knowledge. Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2 SA50: Collaborate to develop communication materials relevant

for tribal uses and tribal audiences.Page 36 Visions and Goals Strategic Actions 2012 Baseline

Assessment

Cross

- Cutting Program Supp ort

Goal 17:
Communication,

Collaboration, and Training SA51: Continue building the communication, collaboration, and training mechanisms needed to effectively increase adaptive capacity at the federal, tribal, state, and local levels. Phase:
Response

Dev elopment

Score:

3

Goal 18: Tracking

Progress And

Measuring

Outcomes SA52: Adopt a phased approach to track programmatic progress towards Strategic Actions; achieve commitments reflected in the
Agency Str ategic Plan ; work with the EPA workg roup to develop

outcome measures. Phase:
Response Development

Score:

3

Goal 19: Climate Change and

Water Research

Needs SA53: Work with the EPA O ffice of Research and Development (O RD ) , other water science agencies, and the water research community to further define nee ds and develop research opportunities to deliver the information needed to support implementation of this 2012 Strategy , including providing the decision support tools needed by water resource managers. Phase:

Assessment

Score:

2

Total Score:

42 of a p ossible

133Page 37 

### APPENDIX 2 : National Water Program Climate Change Organizational FrameworkPage 38 

### Appendix 3 : National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup Principal Members

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water

Mike Muse

Curt Baranowski
Office of Science and Technology

Rachael Novak
Office of Wastewater Management

Veron ica Blette

Karen Metchis
Caitlin Gregg
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
Michael Craghan

Kathleen Kutschenreuter

Julie Reichert

Office of the Assistant Administrator for Water
Mike Shapiro

Jeff Peterson

Joel Corona

Elana Goldstein

Ron Hoffer
David Bylsma
Regions
Region 1

- Mel Cote
Region 2

- Alexandre Remne k
Region 3

- Joe Piotrowski
Region 4

- Bob Howard
Region 5

- Kate Balasa
Region 6

- Jim Brown
Region 7

- Mary Mindrup
Region 8

- Mitra Jha
Region 9

- Suzanne Marr
Reg ion 10

- Paula VanHaagen

### Prepared by:
Office of Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ma y 2013